Table 1. Baseline characteristics at cART initiation (n = 123).
| <5 years (n = 49) | ≥5 years (n = 74) | N | |
| DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL | |||
| Median (IQR) age, years | 2.5(1.8–3.5) | 11.0(9.0–13.4) | 123 |
| Female n (%) | 28(57) | 39(53) | 123 |
| Perinatal infection n (%) | 49(100) | 74(100) | 123 |
| Children exposed to PMTCT, n (%) | 15(33) | 10(15) | 110 |
| Parent status n (%) * | 123 | ||
| Both parents alive | 28(57) | 34(46) | |
| Only mother alive | 7(14) | 12(16) | |
| Only father alive | 4(8) | 6(8) | |
| Both parents died | 10(20) | 22(30) | |
| Guardians/caregivers n (%) | 123 | ||
| Both parents | 19(39) | 20(27) | |
| Mother only | 15(31) | 25(34) | |
| Father only | 2(4) | 3(4) | |
| Other family member | 11(23) | 23(31) | |
| Other | 2(4) | 3(4) | |
| Caregiver's educational status n (%) ** | 123 | ||
| No education/few years primary school | 17(34.7) | 28(37.85) | |
| At least primary school completed | 32(65.3) | 46(62.2) | |
| Distance from healthcare center n (%) *** | 123 | ||
| Living in Kigali | 39(79.6) | 16(21.6) | |
| Living outside of Kigali | 10(20.4) | 58(78.4) | |
| Tested and Diagnosed n (%) | 123 | ||
| PMTCT services | 15 | 10 | |
| Family member died/sick | 15 | 25 | |
| Symptoms | 19 | 39 | |
| CLINICAL | |||
| Weight-for-age z-score | 123 | ||
| Mean (SD) | −2.04(1.6) | −1.49(1.1) | |
| z-score ≤−2 n (%) | 26(53) | 25(34) | |
| Height-for-age z-score | 123 | ||
| Mean (SD) | −2.5(1.4) | −1.7(0.9) | |
| z-score ≤−2 n (%) | 34(69) | 29(39) | |
| WHO stage, n (%) | 122 | ||
| Stage 1 & II | 5(10.2) | 18(24.7) | |
| Stage III & IV | 44(89.8) | 55(75.3) | |
| Tuberculosis at cART, n (%) | 11(22) | 19(26) | 123 |
| LABORATORY | |||
| Immunological status at baseline | 119 | ||
| Median (IQR) CD4 values | 20(13–28) | 337/mm3(236–484) | |
| Children with CD4<15% or <350/mm3, n (%) | 13(28) | 41 (57) | |
| Virological status at baseline | 123 | ||
| Median (IQR) HIV-1 RNA copies/mL | 283,000(59,800–1,100,000) | 90,600(12,800–268,000) | |
| Biochemistry & Hematology at baseline | 122 | ||
| Median (IQR) ALT, UI/l | 20(15–32) | 19(15–25) | |
| Median (IQR) AST, UI/l | 40(34–50) | 34(29–40) | |
| Median (IQR) Hemoglobin, g/dL | 11(10.2–11.6) | 12(11.7–12.8) | |
| INITIAL cART REGIMEN n (%) | 123 | ||
| AZT/3TC/NVP | 38(77.5) | 46(62.2) | |
| ABC/3TC/NVP | 1(2 | 2(2.7) | |
| D4T/3TC/NVP | 2(4) | 11(15.0) | |
| AZT/3TC/EFV | 4(8) | 12(16.2) | |
| D4T/3TC/EFV | 2(4) | 2(2.7) | |
| ABC/3TC/LPV/r | 2(4) | 1(1.4) | |
| Treatment switch | 9(18.4) | 12(16.2) | |
*Orphan status was defined as having at least one biological parent vs. none.
**Caregiver's educational level was categorized as non-educated/few years of primary school vs. completed at least primary school.
***Distance to the clinic was defined as living in Kigali vs. outside of Kigali.